By: Emma Konn
Healing is a journey—and at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County (CAC), a program of JRI, no program understands that better than our Healing and Resilience Program (HARP). HARP is devoted to supporting children and families throughout the healing process, offering compassionate, trauma-informed care every step of the way. Children referred to the CAC often come to us following a recent traumatic experience. Without appropriate support, they may be at risk of developing posttraumatic symptoms that can impact their thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Our program is designed to help them navigate this path with resilience and hope. To learn more about HARP and the ways in which a child can heal, click HERE to our website.
At the CAC, we are proud to feature the Survivor Gallery—a dedicated space that honors the experiences and resilience of the children and families we serve. The Survivor Gallery features artwork, poetry, and other creative expressions by the child or family who have sought our services. Each piece reflects a unique healing journey, created at a pace that feels right for the individual child or family. Contributions vary in form and size—from small, intimate drawings to life-sized pieces—offering the freedom for survivors to express themselves in ways that are meaningful and therapeutic to them. This evolving collection serves as a powerful testament to the strength, creativity, and courage of the children who choose to share their stories.
To highlight our amazing HARP clients, we wanted to share a two piece art insulation that a client produced. Featured in this blog are the Art Description, and photographs of the portraits in our Survivor Gallery.
Art Title: Break the Ice; Growing in Light, 2021
Art Description: “These pieces represent my journey of trauma and healing. In the first painting, I captured the moment of my trauma–profound violation and disconnection. My body trapped in ice, its mechanisms shattered, my voice silenced, and my sense of identity stripped away.
The second painting shift to a vibrant scene of growth and reclamation. Vines and flowers emerge from what was once a frozen body, symbolizing the gradual return of life, hope, and self. The glowing background signifies the light of healing, illuminating my path from darkness and onward to the future. Here, my voice, once lost, its found again, echoing with the strength of survival and the power of reclaiming what was taken.
Together, these works illustrate my transformation–a breaking of the ice that once held my spirit captive, and the flourishing of new life in the warmth of self-acceptance and resilience.”
